James Gunn’s DC Reboot Unveils New Logo for Its First-Ever Villain Movie

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Gods and Monsters, overseen by co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran, is now in full swing on both big and small screens. So far, fans have only seen projects penned by Gunn such as Creature Commandos, Superman, and Peacemaker Season 2. However, things are going to get exciting in 2026 with the arrival of Lanterns, Supergirl, Clayface, and potentially an animated sequel series for Blue Beetle from different creative teams.

Gunn has made it clear that the DC Universe (DCU) will not follow a strict in-house style, instead allowing each project to exhibit its unique character. This flexibility enables characters such as Peacemaker to be action-comedy, while Clayface takes on a horrifying form. To achieve this, DC Studios appears committed to selecting the most suitable creators for each project. For instance, the development of Clayface is in the hands of writer Mike Flanagan and director James Watkins, who both have extensive horror backgrounds and limited experience in the superhero genre.

James Watkins is now filming the DC Studios production titled “Clayface” in Liverpool, U.K., and photos from the set are circulating, giving fans their first glimpse of Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen (also known as Clayface). The leaked images provide a sneak peek at the official clapperboard for the movie and its logo.

Although DC Studios has unveiled the initial logo for Clayface, it’s important to note that this may not be the final design as adjustments can occur during the development process. However, this current design effectively represents the Clayface character, featuring a font that seems to disintegrate into a pool of muddy sludge, mirroring Hagen’s fate in the 2026 movie.

On September 11, 2026, Clayface is set to make history as the first official villain film produced by DC Studios. Previously, the last Batman villain spin-off movie from the blue brand, titled Joker: Folie à Deux, premiered in October 2024 under Gunn and Safran’s leadership at the restructured studio. However, unlike Clayface, Joker: Folie à Deux was produced by director Todd Phillips during the previous regime, not DC Studios, but through Warner Bros. Pictures instead.

Over the next few months, actors including Tom Rhys Harries, Eddie Marsan, Max Minghella, Naomi Ackie, and others will start filming for the production titled “Clayface” in the United Kingdom.

DC Studios Is Leaning Into Villain Movies, And That’s Great

Some might express worry that Clayface began filming just a year before its release, unlike other DCU films which typically have around 1.5 years for additional post-production time. However, due to its limited budget of $40 million, it seems the production will prioritize practical effects, reducing the need for extensive visual effects work.

The initial DC film featuring ‘Joker’ achieved tremendous success, earning over $1 billion at the box office, marking it as one of their major villain movies. Despite the 2024 sequel being a financial flop for Warner Bros., it appears that DC Studios remains undeterred from continuing with villain-centric films.

For the DC Universe’s upcoming Chapter 1, a collaborative film featuring Bane and Deathstroke is currently being developed, with Clayface being the next villain on the radar. However, it remains unclear if this distinctive DC villain duo will indeed materialize as details have been sparse since it was announced that Matthew Orton, who wrote for Moon Knight, is working on the script.

In recent times, both Marvel and DC have encountered challenges at the box office, suggesting that audiences might be growing tired of superhero stories. So far, only a handful of comic book villains have gotten standalone films, but these could potentially breathe new life into the genre, providing opportunities for exploring more intricate characters.

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2025-09-07 08:36